Human Cloning Technology

Description of the Technology

Human cloning refers to the artificial creation of identical persons. The degree of similar identity is not limited to the artificial looks but to the genetic structure of the two organisms. This therefore means that when a person is cloned from another person, the two shall have similar looks and same brain capacity. This technology has further been divided into three main branches. The first type of cloning is therapeutic cloning which does not attract much controversy compared to the other two types.

Therapeutic cloning entails cloning of various body cells from an adult for medical purposes. This area has attracted a wealth of research from those interested in the subject of cloning for the determination of the viability of such a project. The second type of cloning is known as reproductive cloning and it entails the making of new human beings who are produced through the cloned technology.  Due to its controversy, it has not been performed on humans and has been made illegal in a majority of countries. The last type of cloning which is still in its theoretical stages is called replacement cloning and entails replacement of either failed, a failing or even an extensively damaged body with a newer body followed by a partial or even a whole brain transplant.

Arguments For and Against the Technology

As already noted, the concept of human cloning has attracted much controversy over its ethical correctness or incorrectness. Today the subject has attracted mixed reactions on its goodness or otherwise. Those in support of the technology argue that cloning shall ensure that the competitiveness of the world shall be increased if the people who have proved to be competitive are cloned to produce newer people while the uncompetitive persons are left out. Therapeutic cloning also shall increase the treatment of certain ailments hence improving the quality of life of persons. Replacement cloning shall ensure that persons are transferred to better bodies should the current bodies fail.

Those who oppose the technology argue that cloning leads to the uniqueness of human kind which is vital in successful coexistence of humanity. Clones may increase crime as they may posses' similar iris or fingerprints which tampers with individual uniqueness used today in security realms. Religious views assert that cloning deprives the intended natural course of man through natural reproduction. Arguments have been placed that cloning may make humans fail to adapt to the changing environment which is possible through genetic mutations.

Church's Viewpoint (Catholic)

The Catholic Church which sees the act of reproduction as a unique attribute of man given by God is strongly opposed to the issue of human and other species cloning. They argue that by creating newer creatures, science is competing with god who is the sole giver of life. They also believe that the right to have a child is a sacred assignment that has directly been assigned by God to a couple that is joined together in holy matrimony. Cloning therefore is highly discouraged by the Catholic Church.

Evaluation of the Social and Ethical Implications

Ethically speaking, human cloning may have larger effects than benefits to the human race. Cloned character may act mischievously to commit crime, some people with hidden agenda may clone other faster than the other group to overcome them among them, or man may decide to explore and create species or race that shall be superior to the current man. This may therefore result to a collapse of the earth's ecosystem due to an imbalance of species. Procreation is also a social responsibility that holds the society together and the introduction of cloning may have a devastating blow to it.